diff --git a/Libraries/Text/RCTTextView.h b/Libraries/Text/RCTTextView.h
index 19f2fea39..014e35315 100644
--- a/Libraries/Text/RCTTextView.h
+++ b/Libraries/Text/RCTTextView.h
@@ -21,8 +21,10 @@
 @property (nonatomic, assign) BOOL selectTextOnFocus;
 @property (nonatomic, assign) UIEdgeInsets contentInset;
 @property (nonatomic, assign) BOOL automaticallyAdjustContentInsets;
+@property (nonatomic, copy) NSString *text;
+@property (nonatomic, strong) UIColor *textColor;
 @property (nonatomic, strong) UIColor *placeholderTextColor;
-@property (nonatomic, assign) UIFont *font;
+@property (nonatomic, strong) UIFont *font;
 
 - (instancetype)initWithEventDispatcher:(RCTEventDispatcher *)eventDispatcher NS_DESIGNATED_INITIALIZER;
 
diff --git a/Libraries/Text/RCTTextView.m b/Libraries/Text/RCTTextView.m
index c5947f317..fa5b2bf8a 100644
--- a/Libraries/Text/RCTTextView.m
+++ b/Libraries/Text/RCTTextView.m
@@ -72,13 +72,22 @@
   }
 }
 
+- (UIFont *)font
+{
+  return _textView.font;
+}
+
 - (void)setFont:(UIFont *)font
 {
-  _font = font;
-  _textView.font = _font;
+  _textView.font = font;
   [self updatePlaceholder];
 }
 
+- (UIColor *)textColor
+{
+  return _textView.textColor;
+}
+
 - (void)setTextColor:(UIColor *)textColor
 {
   _textView.textColor = textColor;
@@ -106,6 +115,11 @@
   [self updateFrames];
 }
 
+- (NSString *)text
+{
+  return _textView.text;
+}
+
 - (void)setText:(NSString *)text
 {
   if (![text isEqualToString:_textView.text]) {
@@ -146,7 +160,6 @@
 - (void)textViewDidBeginEditing:(UITextView *)textView
 {
   if (_clearTextOnFocus) {
-    [_textView setText:@""];
     _textView.text = @"";
     [self _setPlaceholderVisibility];
   }